Using confidential information to prepare a request and to suggest offers without revealing confidential information

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for supporting electronic transactions, including transactions that are provided with per-user, per-device and per-domain security across domains of multiple service providers.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of suggesting a vendor offer comprising:
 registering an electronic transaction device; 
 receiving from the electronic transaction device transaction information for at least one transaction conducted via the transaction device through a portion of a plurality of vendor accounts; 
 receiving from the electronic transaction device and storing on a non-transient computer readable medium user information designated as confidential at a transaction service provider, wherein the confidential information comprises a plurality of user accounts, the received transactional information comprising a total, date, and vendor for the plurality of accounts, and personal information for the user; 
 retrieving over a network connecting the transaction service provider with a plurality of vendors associated with the plurality of vendor accounts transaction data for a portion of the plurality of vendor accounts; 
 comparing the received transaction information with the retrieved transaction data; 
 communicating certain stored user information selected by the user without identifying the user over a network with a plurality of vendors, wherein vendor information for at least one of the plurality of vendors is accessible by the transaction service provider from a database that includes service or product information for at least a portion of the plurality of vendors, and in response receiving one or more offers from at least one of the plurality of vendors; 
 suggesting a transaction for at least one of the one or more offers to the user based at least in part on the received user information; and 
 presenting the at least one suggested offer to the user. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein presenting the at least one suggested offer to a user includes presenting the at least one suggested offer to a consumer performing a transaction through a point of sale system. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the consumer is performing the transaction via an electronic transaction device. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , further comprising receiving a request to perform a transaction for the suggested offer at the transaction service provider. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , further comprising in response to receiving the request, transferring by the transaction service provider an electronic representation of authentication-based trust established between the vendor and the transaction service provider to the electronic transaction device and an electronic representation of authentication-based trust established between the electronic transaction device and the transaction service provider to the vendor. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , further comprising securing a transaction for the accepted offer by the transaction service provider authenticating the transaction via a three-dimensional security protocol that comprises separate authentication protocols for each of the user, the electronic transaction device and the vendor. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the consumer is performing the transaction via a conventional plastic transaction card. 
     
     
       8. A method of suggesting a service institution offer comprising:
 registering an electronic transaction device; 
 receiving from the electronic transaction device transaction information for at least one transaction conducted via the transaction device through a portion of a plurality of service institution accounts; 
 receiving from the electronic transaction device and storing on a non-transient computer readable medium user information designated as confidential at a transaction service provider, wherein the confidential information comprises a plurality of user accounts, the received transactional information comprising a total, date, and service institution for the plurality of accounts, and personal information for the user; 
 retrieving over a network connecting the transaction service provider with a plurality of service institutions associated with the plurality of service institution accounts transaction data for a portion of the plurality of vendor accounts; 
 comparing the received transaction information with the retrieved transaction data; 
 communicating certain stored user information selected by the user without identifying the user over a network with a plurality of service institutions, wherein service institution information for at least one of the plurality of service institutions is accessible by the transaction service provider from a database that includes service or product information for at least a portion of the plurality of service institutions and in response receiving one or more offers from at least one of the plurality of service institutions; 
 suggesting a transaction for at least one of the one or more offers to the user based at least in part on the received user information; and 
 presenting the at least one suggested offer to the user. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein presenting the at least one suggested offer to a user includes presenting the at least one suggested offer to a consumer performing a transaction through a point of sale system. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the consumer is performing the transaction via an electronic transaction device. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising receiving a request to perform a transaction for the suggested offer at the transaction service provider. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , further comprising in response to receiving the request, transferring by the transaction service provider an electronic representation of authentication-based trust established between the service institution and the transaction service provider to the electronic transaction device and an electronic representation of authentication-based trust established between the electronic transaction device and the transaction service provider to the service institution. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising securing a transaction for the accepted offer by the transaction service provider authenticating the transaction via a three-dimensional security protocol that comprises separate authentication protocols for each of the user, the electronic transaction device and the vendor. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the consumer is performing the transaction via a conventional plastic transaction card.